Sony develops highly efficient wireless power transfer system based on magnetic resonance

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Sony Corp. today announced the development of a highly efficient wireless power transfer system that eliminates the use of power cables from electronic products such as television sets. Using this system, up to 60 Watts of electrical energy can be transferred over a distance of 50cm (at an efficiency of approximately 80%, approximately 60% including rectifier).

This new wireless power transfer system incorporates a form of contactless electrical energy transmission technology based on magnetic resonance. With magnetic resonance, electromagnetic energy is only transferred to recipient devices that share the identical resonant frequencies as the energy source, so energy transfer efficiency is maintained, even when misalignment occurs. Furthermore, even if there are metal objects located between the transmitter and receiver, no heat induction occurs.

Sony has also drawn on its years of experience developing high radio frequency (RF) technologies for use in wireless communications and broadcast products to create a new rectifier that realizes both high speed and high efficiency. The new wireless power transfer system combines these technologies to realize a transfer efficiency of 60%, even when a rectifier is included. Sony has also developed passive extender units that are set to the same frequencies as the transmission and recipient devices, enabling the transfer distance to be extended from 50cm to 80cm (based on fundamental experiments conducted using components only) without any degradation in transfer efficiency.

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Main Features

1. High speed rectifier realizing high transfer efficiency
Sony has drawn on its years of experience and expertise in RF technologies, and also incorporated optimal new components to develop a new rectifier that combines both high speeds and high efficiency. This minimizes energy loss when transferring energy from the transmitter to the receiver, and enables products such as television sets and mobile PCs to be efficiently powered, wirelessly.

2. Transfer distance is able to be extended using passive extender units
Passive extender units placed between the transmitter and receiver units enable the transfer distance to be extended without any degradation in efficiency. Based on fundamental experiments conducted using the component devices only, transfer distance can be extended from 50cm to 80cm. Although relatively large transmitter and receiver units are generally required for transferring energy over long distances, passive extender units can be used to relay power between small-sized transmitter and receiver units.

Source: Sony

   

• NotAsleep - Oct 02, 2009
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  Can it levitate a frog? I'd buy it if it did that...
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• ormondotvos - Oct 02, 2009
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  What are the metrics on the magnetic and RF fields induced? What about accidental resonances? 50cm is 18": what's the loss in 50cm of 18-2 powercord at small wattages?
  
  You'll almost double power consumption with expensive doodads. Wow. Brilliant. To save powercord mess? Go back, grasshopper! Remember when computers had extra outlets on the back for the monitor and modem? Duh.
  
  Looks like a solution without a problem, again.
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• ormondotvos - Oct 02, 2009
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  Modular powercords would work better. If you need six feet, buy six feet. If you need six inches, buy that. Instead of a powercord, install a socket, with a small form factor, like a portable radio uses...
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• holoman - Oct 02, 2009
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  Seem to remember a Memorex commercial with
  Ela Fitzgerald breaking a glass with her voice.
  
  
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• KBK - Oct 03, 2009
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  Except that the human body, DNA and operating considerations work on subtle levels of chemical/electrical functions and are highly disturbed by radio waves and highly disturbed to the point of breakdown by electromagnetics..this is a really great idea! You know..other than the complete breakdown and eventual destruction (expect cancers at the least, leukemia at best) other than that, this is a great idea. Remember, the studies finding that call phones and cell towers are 'fine', are generated by involvements of companies and corporate structures that have untold billions -nay- into the trillions (combined) to loose. In essence, no study of the dangers of electromagnetic radiation of wireless powered devices can be based on 'prior' or 'proven' work that was done anywhere near a corporation. We have tremendous amounts of data on how sensitive and subtle the human body is in it's operation. Exposure to high levels of intense resonant electromagnetics - is a freaking disaster.
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• jerryd - Oct 03, 2009
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  It will never pass US energy standards, Energy Star, so this market is not going to be for it.
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• antialias - Oct 05, 2009
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  @KBK: Leukemia is a form of cancer. But you are eright: if 60-80% are transmitted that means that 20-40% are going somewhere else. Having your home constantly bathed in such an intense form of radiation is certainly not a good idea.
  
  That said: There may be specialty applications where wireless transmission may be useful.
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